Today, Black Rock Harbor contains two historic districts that are popular tourist destinations to visitors to Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Black Rock Harbor Historic District was once a village and the third largest harbor in the state. Later, it became a summer resort. The district includes the 1836 home of Captain John Britton House. The Black Rock Gardens Historic District contains 12 brick buildings that were built as emergency war-time housing for factory workers during World War I.

Black Rock Harbor lies within the humid subtropical belt of Long Island Sound. Summers are warm and sometimes hot. Winters are extremely cold and snowy. The presence of Long Island Sound moderates weather extremes. Temperatures range from an average high of 28°C (82°F) in July to an average low of 5°C (23°F) in January. Snowfall is greatest during February and March.

The Black Rock Harbor Light was built in 1823 at the mouth of the harbor. This 12-meter octagonal stone tower on the south end of Fayerweather Island guided ships into Black Rock Harbor. Today, Friends of Seaside Park preserve and protect the historic lighthouse.

One of the most popular attractions in Black Rock Harbor is Captain's Cove Seaport where visitors can charter boats, board harbor cruises, and visit restaurants and craft shops on the boardwalk. Black Rock Harbor's Captain's Sea Cove is a full-service marina with 350 slips, including overnight slips for transient vessels. Visitors can take a tour of Black Rock Harbor, including the lighthouse, on the 12.2-meter Navy Launch Chief. Also in the Cove is the Dundon House, a Queen Anne Victorian built by Richard Dundon. The house features an exhibit on Black Rock Harbor's maritime history and a collection of artifacts from Black Rock Harbor and Connecticut's oyster industry. The house is open from April to September.